The World Open continues at quite a pace on Thursday when the last 16 of the competition is played across two juicy looking sessions of action out in Yushan. The money is beginning to increase dramatically now so there is a lot to play for.
Most of the big names have made it through although we did lose a couple in the previous round. That said there are some excellent matches to enjoy over the two sessions to keep us entertained throughout the day.
Morning Session
There are four matches in both the sessions so half of the action is going to be on the TV tables over the course of the day. In the morning the TV action sees Mark Allen taking on Dave Gilbert in what looks like being a really tasty encounter while the other match will be equally as good as the last two English Open champions go at it when Mark Selby takes on Stuart Bingham in a clash which shouldn’t lack for quality.
Such is the quality on the main table that someone with the credentials of John Higgins can only be saved for the outside tables. He faces his good friend and fellow former world champion Graeme Dott while we are guaranteed a quarter finalist from Thailand as two men from the country meet in the other match in the morning. That sees Thepchaiya Un-Nooh continuing his quest for successive tournament wins when he meets Sunny Akani.
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Afternoon Session
It is all about two genuine star players in the afternoon session and predictably and rightly both are on the main table. Judd Trump and Ding Junhui are the players in question. Trump has another date with Joe Perry, the man who put him out of the China Championship earlier in the month, while Ding goes up against a Michael Holt who has Mark Williams and Barry Hawkins among his victims in the last couple of tournaments.
It might just be that the best match of the afternoon is not on one of the main tables as Kyren Wilson takes on his World Cup partner Jack Lisowski on one of the outside tables, with the winner very much feeling as though he could go all the way in the tournament. The other match shouldn’t be too shabby either as Ali Carter goes up against Zhou Yuelong in what could well be one that goes all the way.
Betting
I’ll go with two more bets over the course of the day, one in each session. In the first session I like Dave Gilbert to beat Mark Allen. Allen did well to come through against Zhang Anda in a marathon match on Wednesday, but afterwards ‘the Pistol’ suggested he wasn’t feeling his best which brings Gilbert right into play. Gilbert has been in good touch for the majority of 2019, making a couple of finals and the World Championship semi-final so he is clearly in the form of his life at the minute. If Allen was feeling well you wouldn’t say Gilbert was without a chance so with Allen potentially under the weather the Englishman offers value here.
Ding Junhui has looked better in his three matches this week but he still isn’t completely convincing me I have to admit. I fancy Michael Holt could be a bit of value to see him off. Ding’s record in recent times is ordinary at best so he’ll be under pressure to go much deeper into the tournament here. Holt isn’t the best player in the world but he’s enjoying a good time of it at the minute. He beat Mark Williams in the English Open and has seen off Barry Hawkins this week. If he keeps closer order to Ding he could cause him to crack. I think he’s worth chancing here.
Tips
WON – Back D.Gilbert to beat M.Allen for a 4/10 stake at 2.45 with Betfair
Back him here:
WON – Back M.Holt to beat D.Junhui for a 3/10 stake at 3.25 with Sky Bet
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